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13 seek seat on port authority board

WARREN — Thirteen people have applied for a position on the Western Reserve Port Authority board, which is responsible for overseeing the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and handles some economic development in Trumbull and Mahoning counties.

Trumbull County commissioners are seeking to appoint someone to the board seat occupied by businessman Scott Lewis. Lewis, who has been on the board for eight years, had his term expire on Dec. 31. The deadline to send in applications was Monday.

“We need economic development and we need someone who’s familiar with the airport,” Commissioner Frank Fuda said. The port authority board has four members from Trumbull County and four members from Mahoning County.

“We were hoping to have a decision by today, hopefully we’ll have one by next week,” Commissioner Dan Polivka said Friday, who stressed that the commissioners have not been able to review the applications as a group because of Polivka being out of town and Fuda having the flu.

Polivka said he does not think the board will renew Lewis’ membership, but Fuda said he has no idea who the board will select until they have gotten together to discuss the applicants.

In April 2014, Lewis was issued a reprimand by the Ohio Ethics Commission because of a $97,366.38 commission check he received from a real estate transaction. The 2009 transaction saw Davis International sell a cargo building on the grounds of the airport to Millwood Inc., who would lease the land. Lewis had not revealed that he represented Davis International to the other board members, and they were surprised when he abstained from the vote.

Later on, Lewis revealed his actions violated Ohio law that governs interest in public contracts. Fuda and Polivka both signed a letter calling for Lewis’ resignation on June 17, 2014, although Lewis did not resign and has remained on the board until now. When asked if the incident would affect the commissioner’s decision on whether to renew Lewis’ membership, Fuda said it did not.

“Scott contributed well to the board over the years,” Fuda said. Fuda explained that Lewis’ experience and time on the board are both reasons to reappoint him, However, Fuda said there are some promising candidates and if someone is found who can serve the port authority better, then Lewis will be replaced.

By Friday, the only person who the commissioners had separately interviewed was owner and CEO of GLI Pool Products, Gary Crandall of Warren. Crandall, along with applicant James Cicchillo of Bristolville, are the only two candidates who applied for the position four years ago. Depending on the qualities of the applicants, the commissioners may interview some or all of them.

Lewis will continue to serve on the board until a decision is reached by the commissioners. Besides Lewis, Crandall and Cicchillo, applicants include Sterling Williams of Warren, Dennis Gartland of Cortland, John Spivey, Jr. of Youngstown, James Walker of Warren, Gina Angle of Warren, Carmen Mazza of Niles, Dennis Blank of Warren, Phillip Arbie of Warren, and Michael Rapovy of Youngstown.

ddye@tribtoday.com

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